Dehydrating apparatus



Jan. 31, 1928.

K. FRIED DEHYDRATING APPARATUS Filed July 29, 192.7 2 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR. Karl Fried,

BMW

Jan. 31, 1928. 1,657,745

K. FRIED DEHYDRATING APPARATUS Filed July 29, 192E 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 i O 19 14 4 INVENTOR.

Karl Fried,

% ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 31, 1928.

PATENT OFFICE.

KARL FRIED, OF NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.

DEHYDBATING APPARATUS.

Application filed July 29, 1927. Serial No; 209,371.

My invention relates tode-hydrating apparatus.

An important object of the invention is to provide apparatus ofthe above mentioned character which may be employed to dry fruit, vegetables or the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus oft-he above mentioned Cl'lttlflCt-Q-l, so constructed that the drying medium, such as heated air, caused to travel in a closed circuit about the material to be dried, and the moisture removed from the heated air without allowing the escape of the heated air, therebyeconomizinginthe operation of the apparatus.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the above mentioned character which is simple in construction, strong, durable and not liable to derangement.

Other objects and advantages of-the invention will be apparent during the course of thefollowing description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same, 1

Figure 1 is a central vertical longitudinal section through apparatus embodying my invention, parts in elevation for the purpose of illustration, I

Figure 2 is an enlarged section through one of the movable doors affording access to the tray, I

Figure 31s a horizontal section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a vertical section taken on line 4-4 of Figure. 1, i V Y Figure 5 is a front elevation of the ap paratus, and, i i v Figure 6 is a detailed section taken on line 66 of Figure 3. I

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration, is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention. the numeral 10 designates a casing orihousing, which is vertically arranged and is preferably rectangular in horizontal cross section. This casing is closed, and is included in an enclosed circuit for the continuous circulation of a drying medium, such as heated air.

Arranged in the forward portion of thls casing are inclined tracks 11, extending downwardly toward the front end of the casing. These tracks areattached to stationary uprights 12, arranged in the casand the tracks 11 are spaced from the side walls of the casing, providing passages for the free travel of the heated air. Mounted to slide longitudinally upon the tracks 11 are trays, embodying frames 13, and bottoms 14:, which are foraminous and preferably made of wire net, although any other suitable material may be used. The tracks lead to openings 15 in the front wall of the casing and the trays are adapted to be moved into and outof the casing through these openings. a vertically swinging door 16, hinged at its top, as shown at 17. Each door carries a pivoted handle 18, having cranks 19, which aid in openingthe doors. As soon asthe trays are completely introduced into the easing or removedtherefrom, the door is released and it will drop to the closed position, thereby preventing, as much as possible, the escape of the heated air.

Disposed in the upper end of the casing .10 and spaced from its top is an inclined partition 19, extending for the entirewidth Each opening is covered by ofthe casing and forming agas-tightjoint with the sides thereof. This partition extends toward the front end of the. casing and provides a passage 20, the upper for ward; end of whichis open, as shown. Connected with the lower rear end of the partition 19 is a vertical partition 21, attached to the partition 19 and extending for the entire width of the casing 10 and forming a gas-tight joint with thesides of the easing/ The partition 21 forms with the ad jacent rear end wall of ,the casing 10 a de- 1 pending vertical passage 22, in freecommunication wlt-h the passage 20. The numeral 23 designates an intermediate vertical transverse part1t1on or wall, extendlng for the entire wldth of the casing 10 and havlng sides of the casing and the co-acting walls.

The bottom wall 24 is preferably inclined rearwardly and is provided in its lower end with a drain pipe 25, extending to theexterior of the rear of the casing 10 and equipped with a cut-oil valve 26. The partition 23 and bottom 24 and associated walls for the entire width of the casing 10, and

the lower portion of this condensing chamher is in con'nnunication with the passage as shown.

The partition 23 extends downwardly he.- vond the bottom wall 2% and is connected at its lower end with a bottom wall 28,, forming a closed fan chamber 29. Mounted within the tan chamber 29 is' a rotary blower or centrifugal fan 30, having an outlet at its periphery in communication with a discharge pipe 31, extending through the partition 2*; and having a'flaring outlet end 32, arranged adjacent to and below the lowermost tray. The rotary blower is driven by a motor 33, arranged exteriorly oi the easing 10,as shown.

The numeral 34 designates a vertically arranged suction pipe, extending longitudinally through the condcnsii'lg chamber 2?, adjacent its forward'side, and terminating at an elevation adjacent to and spaced from the closed top of the condensing chamber, as shown. The pipe it extends through the bottom 2st, having a gas-tight joint therewith,and leads into a suction pipe 35, con- I nected with the central intake of the rotary 'an intake 40;

blower. The pipe 34 is equipped with a cutoti' valve 36, which is operated by a rod 37, extending to the exterior of the casing, and equipped with a handle 38'. The pipe is pre era'bly or smaller diameter than the pipe and I have found that satisfactory reo5 suits may be obtained by having the pipe 3t 7 one inch in diameter and the pipe 35 four inches in diameter, while the invention is in no sense restricted to these dimensions. The pipe 35 extends forwardly of the partition 23 and iscontinuedin the form of a pipe 39, preferably of the same diameter, and having Arranged within the condensation chamber 27 are'inclined battles 27,, having apertures 28', perferably one-thirty-second of an inch in diameter and punched upwardly from the lower sides of the battles, as shown.

Arranged in the bottom ofthe casing 10 is a' steam heating coil 41, for supplying heat to the lower portion of the casing, while any other suitable form of heating means jlnay beemployed.

The opcratioirof the apparatus is as follows v i Thetrays are'properly filled with the articles to be dried, such as fruits, or vege tables, and introduced into the casing. The centrifugal fan 30 is set into action, while the steam coil 41 is delivering heat to the bottom of the casing. The air passes from the flaring end of the discharge conduit 31 into the lower portionof the casing 10, and traveling: over the heating coil 41, is heated and passes upwardly between or through the trays). Some of this air passes upwardly and is drawn into the passage 20 while the major portion of the-air is drawn in through the suction pipe 40 and directly returned to the centrifugal fan. When the air passes betweenor through the trays it dries the fruit or vegetables and becomes laden with moisture obtained from the same. A. portion of this moisture laden air passes through the passage 20, as stated and is drawn through the passage 22, and into the con- (lensing chamber 27 and is there deprived of its moisture, which is condensed in the bottom of the condensing chamber. This air is now drawn through the suction pipe 31 and returned to the intake of the centrifugal fan. It is thus seen that the air is caused to travel in a closed circuit. within the casing, and during its travel it passes in contact with the material to be dried to remove the major portion of the moisture therefrom, and upon further travel of the air, in the closed circuit, it is deprived ofthe major portion of its water, and returned to the asing to repeat the operation. By this means the drying may be effected with the least amountof supply heat, and hence a substantial economy is effected in the operation of the machine. It is desired to have the air travel relatively slowly through the condensing chamber 27, and to effect this,

and to feed a suitable amount of air to the intake of the fan, the suction pipe 39 isprovidcd, preferably having a greater diameter than the pipe 34.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention, herewith shown and described,

is to be, taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention, or the scope of thesubjoined claims.

Having claim 1. In a dehydrating apparatus of the thus described my invention, I

character described, a casing, upstanding supporting means within the casing tor the material to be dried, a condensing chamber within the casing upon onesidc oi the supporting means. means providing a passage arranged above the supporting means and leading into the bottom of the condensing chamber. a rotary i'an, an outlet pipe. connected with the fan and leading into the easing below the supporting means. a suction pipe in con'imunication with the top of the condensing chamber and leading to the intake of the fan, and a second suction pipe leading into the casing atwan elevation near its cente' and in communication with the intake of the fan, the second named suction pipe having a greater diameter than the first named suction pipe.

2. In a dehydrating apparatus of. the character described, a substantially vertical casing, supporting means within thecasing for the material to be dried'and extending throughout the major portion of the vertical length of the casing, a substantially vertical condensing chamber Within the easing upon one side of the supporting means, means providing a passage arranged above the supporting means and leading into the bottom of the condensingchamber, a rotary fan, an outlet pipe connected with the fan and leading into the casing below the supporting means, a suction pipe in communication with the top of the condensing chamber and leading to the intake of the fan, and a second suction pipe leading into the casing at 'an elevation near its center and in communication with the intake of the fan.

3. In a dehydrating apparatus of the character described. a substantially vertical casing, substantially vertical supporting means Within the casing, for the material to be dried and extending throughout the major portion of the vertical length of the casing, a substantially vertical condensing chamber within the casing, means for receiving vapors from the top of the casing and conducting the same into the bottom of the condensing chamber, a rotary fan, an outlet pipe connected With the fan and leading in the casing adjacent to the lower end of the supporting means, a suction pipe in communication with the top of the condensing chamber and'leading into the intake of the fan, and a second suction pipe leading into the casing at an elevation near its center and in communication With the intake of the fan.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

KARL FRIED. 

